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15 Stellar Lunch Spots in San Francisco

Anything but another sad desk salad

by Lauren Saria and Paolo Bicchieri Updated Mar 24, 2023, 1:08pm PDT

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by Lauren Saria and Paolo Bicchieri Updated Mar 24, 2023, 1:08pm PDT

Patricia Chang

Don’t call it a comeback. Actually, that’s pretty much exactly what it is: lunching in the city is on the rebound. Whether you’re looking for a great takeout to take back to your desk or a place to sit down and enjoy an hours-long repast on a chill Friday afternoon, San Francisco restaurants are happy to oblige. This list covers stellar sandwich shops, local favorites of delivery and takeaway, and a few options for a good old-fashioned, sit-down power lunch. Whatever you’re craving, let these 15 restaurants serve your next midday meal.

Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; it may pose a risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial COVID transmission.

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If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Lucca Delicatessen

Lucca is the old-school Italian-American deli of the Marina, family-owned since 1929. It’s a meaty sandwich destination, starring Italian combos with mortadella and salami, caprese with fresh mozzarella and prosciutto, and, needless to say, meatballs.

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2120 Chestnut St, San Francisco, CA 94123

Visit Website

Salami hanging from the ceiling at Lucca Deli

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Maison Nico

Elegant French viennoiserie is the specialty at this bakery and cafe, tucked down a side street just off Columbus Avenue. You’ll know it by the line of customers that often snakes down the sidewalk outside but it’s worth the wait for a thick slab of pate en croute or a jar of rustic, garlicky rillette de cochon served with sliced baguette and a medley of pickles. Snag one of the seats inside and enjoy your light fare with a canned cocktail or glass of wine.

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710 Montgomery St, San Francisco, CA 94111

Visit Website

Chef Nico of Maison Nico

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18 Essential Bakeries in San Francisco

Angler

Has the power lunch returned to downtown San Francisco? Yes, if you ask the folks at this Embarcadero fine dining destination, which reopened for lunch service Tuesday through Saturday earlier this spring. The menu includes decadent seafood options like oysters, as well as more approachable options like a fried fish sandwich, burger, and flatiron steak.

Open in Google Maps

132 The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94105

Visit Website

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Kin Khao

Widely accepted as one of the finest Thai restaurants in town, Kin Khao is the more casual sister restaurant to owner Pim Techamuanvivit’s Nari in Japantown. Here, the menu skews more toward street food, so don’t skip dishes like the mushroom hor mok and fish sauce-infused Pretty Hot Wings, which do require getting your hands a little messy but are more than worth sacrificing a few extra napkins.

55 Cyril Magnin St, San Francisco, CA 94102

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Marufuku Ramen

Marufuku joined the many outstanding lunch and snack options in Japantown in 2017. The Hakata-style ramen comes in a rich and creamy tonkotsu broth sunk with pork belly, or there’s a lighter chicken paitan.

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1581 Webster St #235, San Francisco, CA 94115

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Hakata-style tonkotsu ramen at Marufuku

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La Cocina Municipal Marketplace

La Cocina’s long awaited food hall is open for weekday lunches only — but if you can work around the somewhat limited hours you can have your pick among options like smoked sausage and po-boys from Boug Cali, Estrellita’s Snack’s pupusas, guisados tacos courtesy Mi Morena, and more. There’s coffee from Fluid Cooperative Cafe for a post-lunch pick-me-up or cocktails over at La Paloma if your afternoon is headed the other way.

Open in Google Maps

101 Hyde St, San Francisco, CA 94102

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Birdbox

This fast-casual fried chicken shop from the team behind Michelin-starred Birdsong might offer up some of the most exceptional birds in the Bay. Not only do they source quality chicken, all organic and free-range, but they also fry them flawlessly and then douse them in an array of funky and unexpected seasonings: think Classic Yeast, Spicy Falcon, and sour cream and onion. There’s buttery cornbread to be had on the side, and a double-fermented hot sauce if you’re into spice.

Open in Google Maps

680A 2nd St, San Francisco, CA 94107

Visit Website

A box of fried chicken from Birdbox.

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Souvla

Couples have literally fallen in love over the salads and wraps from Souvla, the Greek fast-casual mini chain. Is it the spit-roasted lamb? The harissa yogurt? The garlicky fries? Who can say, but don’t forget the Greek frozen yogurt with baklava crumbles for dessert.

517 Hayes St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Visit Website

A gyro at Souvla

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Devil's Teeth Baking Company

Everyday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. you can swing by either of Devil’s Teeth’s locations, which sandwich the north and south sides of the park, for fresh baked cinnamon rolls and a sandwich. The breakfast sandwich served on a big, fluffy biscuit makes a respectable lunch but there are also more traditional lunch options like a BLT, tuna salad, or grilled cheese.

Open in Google Maps

3619 Balboa St, San Francisco, CA 94121

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Lucinda's Deli & More

A former Horsefeather chef opened this sandwich spot near Alamo Square, because he likes taking a mortadella sub to the park with his pitbull. The sandwiches are simple, but the chef touches come through with lots of different spreads and toppings, from flavored mayos and housemade barbecue sauce to pickled and crispy onions.

Open in Google Maps

535 Scott St, San Francisco, CA 94117

Visit Website

Roast beef at Lucinda’s Deli

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Beit Rima

The menu of simple but excellently executed Arabic food at this casual full-service restaurant never ceases to satisfy. Just off the main drag in Cole Valley, Beit Rima serves flavorful hummus, smoky baba ghanoush, and grilled meats in either a comfy dining room or at tables outside. It’s a solid choice for vegetarians and omnivores alike.

Open in Google Maps

86 Carl St, San Francisco, CA 94117

Visit Website

Stewed fava beans at Beit Rima.

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Palm City

Palm City calls itself the “premier westernmost hoagie destination in the country.” It’s an Outer Sunset cafe and wine shop where Dennis Cantwell and Monica Wong serve the Philly-style sandwich with mortadella, finocchiona, mozzarella, parmesan, arugula, and nduja mayo; traditional garlic roasted pork with broccoli raab, toma, and cherry pepper aioli; and a well-stuffed BLT. It’s open for seating at tables inside and out, first come, first served.

Open in Google Maps

4055 Irving St, San Francisco, CA 94122

Visit Website

Hoagie from Palm City

Also featured in:

HOT JOHNNIE'S

This casual pandemic-born shop is all about the pastrami, which is brined and cured in house in small batches. You can have it sliced and folded into several sandwiches; the Dutch Crunch feels particularly San Franciscan in that it’s served on the city’s favorite sandwich bread and smothered in muenster, pepperoncini spread, housemade pickles, and sprinkled with fresh dill. Take it to go or out back to enjoy on the restaurant’s hidden patio.

Open in Google Maps

4077 18th St, San Francisco, CA 94114

Visit Website

Pastrami sandwiches from Hot Johnnie’s

Sanguchon Eatery

Peruvian chef Carlos Altamirano brought marinated meats and flaky empanadas to Valencia with this brightly decorated counter shop. The menu is built around beef, pork, and chicken served in sandwiches and on skewers, technically anticuchos, so be warned, this isn’t the light seafood fare you might be expecting.

Open in Google Maps

1182 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Visit Website

Lomo saltado sandwich from Sanguchon

Dinosaurs

The Ocean Avenue location of mini-chain Dinosaurs makes for a great grab-and-go lunch option, with affordable Vietnamese iced coffee, avocado milkshakes, spring rolls, and a good-sized banh mi stuffed with shaking beef, lemongrass pork, or spicy tuna.

Open in Google Maps

2522 Ocean Ave, San Francisco, CA 94132

Visit Website

Also featured in:

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Lucca Delicatessen

2120 Chestnut St, San Francisco, CA 94123

Lucca is the old-school Italian-American deli of the Marina, family-owned since 1929. It’s a meaty sandwich destination, starring Italian combos with mortadella and salami, caprese with fresh mozzarella and prosciutto, and, needless to say, meatballs.

Open in Google Maps

2120 Chestnut St, San Francisco, CA 94123

Visit Website

Salami hanging from the ceiling at Lucca Deli

Maison Nico

710 Montgomery St, San Francisco, CA 94111

Elegant French viennoiserie is the specialty at this bakery and cafe, tucked down a side street just off Columbus Avenue. You’ll know it by the line of customers that often snakes down the sidewalk outside but it’s worth the wait for a thick slab of pate en croute or a jar of rustic, garlicky rillette de cochon served with sliced baguette and a medley of pickles. Snag one of the seats inside and enjoy your light fare with a canned cocktail or glass of wine.

Open in Google Maps

710 Montgomery St, San Francisco, CA 94111

Visit Website

Chef Nico of Maison Nico

Angler

132 The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94105

Has the power lunch returned to downtown San Francisco? Yes, if you ask the folks at this Embarcadero fine dining destination, which reopened for lunch service Tuesday through Saturday earlier this spring. The menu includes decadent seafood options like oysters, as well as more approachable options like a fried fish sandwich, burger, and flatiron steak.

Open in Google Maps

132 The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94105

Visit Website

Kin Khao

55 Cyril Magnin St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Widely accepted as one of the finest Thai restaurants in town, Kin Khao is the more casual sister restaurant to owner Pim Techamuanvivit’s Nari in Japantown. Here, the menu skews more toward street food, so don’t skip dishes like the mushroom hor mok and fish sauce-infused Pretty Hot Wings, which do require getting your hands a little messy but are more than worth sacrificing a few extra napkins.

55 Cyril Magnin St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Visit Website

Marufuku Ramen

1581 Webster St #235, San Francisco, CA 94115

Marufuku joined the many outstanding lunch and snack options in Japantown in 2017. The Hakata-style ramen comes in a rich and creamy tonkotsu broth sunk with pork belly, or there’s a lighter chicken paitan.

Open in Google Maps

1581 Webster St #235, San Francisco, CA 94115

Visit Website

Hakata-style tonkotsu ramen at Marufuku

La Cocina Municipal Marketplace

101 Hyde St, San Francisco, CA 94102

La Cocina’s long awaited food hall is open for weekday lunches only — but if you can work around the somewhat limited hours you can have your pick among options like smoked sausage and po-boys from Boug Cali, Estrellita’s Snack’s pupusas, guisados tacos courtesy Mi Morena, and more. There’s coffee from Fluid Cooperative Cafe for a post-lunch pick-me-up or cocktails over at La Paloma if your afternoon is headed the other way.

Open in Google Maps

101 Hyde St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Visit Website

Birdbox

680A 2nd St, San Francisco, CA 94107

This fast-casual fried chicken shop from the team behind Michelin-starred Birdsong might offer up some of the most exceptional birds in the Bay. Not only do they source quality chicken, all organic and free-range, but they also fry them flawlessly and then douse them in an array of funky and unexpected seasonings: think Classic Yeast, Spicy Falcon, and sour cream and onion. There’s buttery cornbread to be had on the side, and a double-fermented hot sauce if you’re into spice.

Open in Google Maps

680A 2nd St, San Francisco, CA 94107

Visit Website

A box of fried chicken from Birdbox.

Souvla

517 Hayes St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Couples have literally fallen in love over the salads and wraps from Souvla, the Greek fast-casual mini chain. Is it the spit-roasted lamb? The harissa yogurt? The garlicky fries? Who can say, but don’t forget the Greek frozen yogurt with baklava crumbles for dessert.

517 Hayes St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Visit Website

A gyro at Souvla

Devil's Teeth Baking Company

3619 Balboa St, San Francisco, CA 94121

Everyday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. you can swing by either of Devil’s Teeth’s locations, which sandwich the north and south sides of the park, for fresh baked cinnamon rolls and a sandwich. The breakfast sandwich served on a big, fluffy biscuit makes a respectable lunch but there are also more traditional lunch options like a BLT, tuna salad, or grilled cheese.

Open in Google Maps

3619 Balboa St, San Francisco, CA 94121

Visit Website

Lucinda's Deli & More

535 Scott St, San Francisco, CA 94117

A former Horsefeather chef opened this sandwich spot near Alamo Square, because he likes taking a mortadella sub to the park with his pitbull. The sandwiches are simple, but the chef touches come through with lots of different spreads and toppings, from flavored mayos and housemade barbecue sauce to pickled and crispy onions.

Open in Google Maps

535 Scott St, San Francisco, CA 94117

Visit Website

Roast beef at Lucinda’s Deli

Beit Rima

86 Carl St, San Francisco, CA 94117

The menu of simple but excellently executed Arabic food at this casual full-service restaurant never ceases to satisfy. Just off the main drag in Cole Valley, Beit Rima serves flavorful hummus, smoky baba ghanoush, and grilled meats in either a comfy dining room or at tables outside. It’s a solid choice for vegetarians and omnivores alike.

Open in Google Maps

86 Carl St, San Francisco, CA 94117

Visit Website

Stewed fava beans at Beit Rima.

Palm City

4055 Irving St, San Francisco, CA 94122

Palm City calls itself the “premier westernmost hoagie destination in the country.” It’s an Outer Sunset cafe and wine shop where Dennis Cantwell and Monica Wong serve the Philly-style sandwich with mortadella, finocchiona, mozzarella, parmesan, arugula, and nduja mayo; traditional garlic roasted pork with broccoli raab, toma, and cherry pepper aioli; and a well-stuffed BLT. It’s open for seating at tables inside and out, first come, first served.

Open in Google Maps

4055 Irving St, San Francisco, CA 94122

Visit Website

Hoagie from Palm City

HOT JOHNNIE'S

4077 18th St, San Francisco, CA 94114

This casual pandemic-born shop is all about the pastrami, which is brined and cured in house in small batches. You can have it sliced and folded into several sandwiches; the Dutch Crunch feels particularly San Franciscan in that it’s served on the city’s favorite sandwich bread and smothered in muenster, pepperoncini spread, housemade pickles, and sprinkled with fresh dill. Take it to go or out back to enjoy on the restaurant’s hidden patio.

Open in Google Maps

4077 18th St, San Francisco, CA 94114

Visit Website

Pastrami sandwiches from Hot Johnnie’s

Sanguchon Eatery

1182 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Peruvian chef Carlos Altamirano brought marinated meats and flaky empanadas to Valencia with this brightly decorated counter shop. The menu is built around beef, pork, and chicken served in sandwiches and on skewers, technically anticuchos, so be warned, this isn’t the light seafood fare you might be expecting.

Open in Google Maps

1182 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Visit Website

Lomo saltado sandwich from Sanguchon

Dinosaurs

2522 Ocean Ave, San Francisco, CA 94132

The Ocean Avenue location of mini-chain Dinosaurs makes for a great grab-and-go lunch option, with affordable Vietnamese iced coffee, avocado milkshakes, spring rolls, and a good-sized banh mi stuffed with shaking beef, lemongrass pork, or spicy tuna.

Open in Google Maps

2522 Ocean Ave, San Francisco, CA 94132

Visit Website

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